Graph Therapeutics Raises $5 Million for Drug Discovery Programs

Graph Therapeutics, a company in the field of immunology and inflammation research, has closed a $5 million (approx. €4.4 million) funding round. The round was led by the Paris-based venture capital firm Daphni. With this investment, the company’s total funding increases to over $10 million, which includes non-dilutive funding.

In addition to Daphni, existing investors SquareOne Venture Capital, Merantix Capital, and NAVEC Investment Management also participated in the round. Furthermore, non-dilutive grants were awarded by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG) and the Austria Wirtschaftsservice (aws).

Strategic Realignment

The funding is primarily intended to advance the company’s internal drug discovery programs for inflammatory and immune-mediated diseases. The goal is to shift the focus from the pure development of the technological platform toward the clinical development of specific therapeutic approaches. In parallel, platform capacities and the foundation for strategic partnerships and out-licensing options will be expanded.

Graph Therapeutics’ technological foundation is based on a “lab-in-the-loop” approach. This combines live patient cell models with machine learning to analyze complex immune functions. By examining multi-omics data and primary patient cells, the company identifies disease mechanisms, drug targets, and biomarkers.

The founding team has experience in AI-driven precision oncology, including work at Allcyte, a company that was acquired by Exscientia.

Support Through Public Funding

The involvement of the FFG and the aws through the “Austrian Life Sciences” program and the aws “Deep Tech Life Sciences Seed Financing” program underscores the role of public funding for deep-tech companies in Austria. These funds supplement private capital and are directed toward the development of the company’s scientific research approaches.